Exeter's multi-million pound police station has moved a step closure to completion with the crime czar bolting into place the last piece of steelwork.

Alison Hernandez, the Police and crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, was joined by chief constable Shaun Sawyer on the roof of the landmark building at police HQ in Middlemoor.

The fast-growing £29million structure is on time to be completed in January 2020 and when finished will be home to 450 officers and a state-of-the-art custody suite.

She said: “Making sure our police officers have the best facilities to keep our communities safe is a key element of my Police and Crime Plan,” said Ms Hernandez.

New police station in Exeter takes shape

“I am absolutely committed to improving officer welfare and we remain on target to deliver new facilities at Middlemoor in the middle part of next year.

“In the meantime the transition from old to new in the city is already under way and the city centre community team will be operational out of the new hub in the city council’s Paris Street building soon.

“Willmott Dixon, the main contractor, has made the most of the mild winter so far to make excellent progress and we are really starting to get a good idea of what this striking development will look like.

“At the same time they have continued to invest in communities across Devon – working with the police and other partners on lots of projects including with ex-offenders, schoolchildren and in diverse communities.

Landmark £29million Exeter police station reaches milestone

“At a time when police budgets are high on the agenda it is good for the public to be able to see how the money they spend on their police is being invested.”

The new police station has been designed with the input of serving officers. The building is essentially split into two sections connected by a linking corridor. One half is designed to holding suspects in custody. There will be a large custody desk separating two blocks of 20 cells. The cells, each about three meters square will have a bed, sink, toilet and buzzer. Behind the cells are two exercise areas which are lit by natural light from the roof. The floor above the custody suite house machinery allowing them to function properly.

In the other half of the complex, known as South Side, police staff and officers will work in modern facilities. The building will replace the current Heavitree Road station which is more than half a century old and considered so dilapidated as to be almost impossible to work in. Police will now be able to enjoy spectacular views of east Exeter, including Woodbury Common, the Exe estuary and the blue footbridge over the M5. To the west Haldon Hill will be visible from the second floor.

Landmark £29million Exeter police station reaches milestone

Exeter’s police commander, Chief Superintendent Sam de Reya, said: “I am delighted to see our new modern purposely-built police station taking shape. This building will support our people to deliver front line policing services to the public across Exeter, east and mid Devon and beyond.

“We have taken our first steps towards a new way of working by relocating our Exeter neighbourhood team to new offices in to the heart of Exeter City and into the Civic Centre.

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“Our people do a difficult and complex job and deserve to have a positive working environment which supports them to do their best.’

John Boughton, deputy managing director for Willmott Dixon, said: “It is great to be able to celebrate this important milestone in the build of Exeter’s new police station. You can really get a sense of what an impressive building this will be.

Landmark £29million Exeter police station reaches milestone

“As part of our targeted training and recruitment programme, the project is also delivering additional value to the local community, with two ex-military personnel amongst many people gaining valuable work experience on site.”